Defenders of Wildlife and the Alaska Wildlife Alliance sued the state four years ago. They said the control of wolves and bears violates the constitution.

The court ruled on Friday that the state game board has both a constitutional and statutory duty to apply the principals of sustained yield to both predators and prey. But Justice Morgan Christen, writing on behalf of the court, said the constitution permits the state to give preference to moose and caribou over wolves and bears.

Crucial to the decision was a clause in the constitution stipulating that “wildlife … shall be utilized, developed and maintained on the sustained yield principle, subject to preferences among beneficial uses.”